Top seed Carlos Alcaraz moved into the third round at Wimbledon with a 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over 84th-ranked Alexandre Muller on Friday, putting on an entertaining if error-strewn performance on Centre Court.
Muller, 26, who has spent most of his professional career on the second-tier Challenger circuit, was able to pressure Alcaraz into an uncharacteristic 41 unforced errors. But the smiling young Spaniard’s all-around game, a mixture of power and exquisite touch, was just too strong.
After breaking serve in the seventh game, Alcaraz won the first set on his fourth set point with a big serve. He raced to a 6-0 lead in the second-set tiebreaker before ultimately winning it with a glorious half-volley.
Alcaraz, who made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, produced a searing passing shot to break serve in the ninth game of the final set and wrapped up the match on his serve with a forehand winner.
In the second round, third-seeded Daniil Medvedev advanced by beating Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (5) and No. 6 Holger Rune swept Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Also, Matteo Berrettini upset No. 15 Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
No. 14 Lorenzo Musetti won Friday’s only matchup of seeded men’s players with a 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 17 Hubert Hurkacz to reach the fourth round. No. 8 Jannik Sinner is into the fourth as well after beating Quentin Halys 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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